Dog Owners Are More Active

New study finds dog owners walk more than people who don't own dogs.

If you’ve been weighing whether to let the kids have the puppy, consider this: pet ownership could boost your family's activity level.

In a new study in the Journal of Physical Activity & Health, researchers used previous data to compare the walking habits of dog owners with people who don't own dogs. Not surprisingly, they found that people with dogs walked more each week than people without dogs, and that dog owners were more likely to meet recommended physical activity requirements than people without pooches.

The researchers analyzed 29 studies published between 1990 and 2010, primarily in the United States and Australia. On average, 60% of dog owners walked 160 minutes per week and four times per week, a greater amount and frequency than people in the dog-less households.

More often than not, an adult took the dog out, but on average kids ages 5 to 12 walked their dog 1.7 times per week.

“Overall, the results of this review indicate that dog ownership is consistently associated with higher levels of walking,” the authors write. “Moreover, dog owners (and dog walkers) were more likely than nondog owners (and nondog walkers) to meet the recommended levels of [physical activity].”

The researchers note that it’s unclear whether dog walking added to a person’s total physical activity, or if walking the dog was done at the expense of hitting the gym or playing sports.

Of course, you’d never have to sacrifice a run; you can turn your dog, even a reluctant one, into an endurance animal in no time. Just heed the advice of Cooper (pictured), occasional running companion of the author of Remy’s World. “Ease your dog into running,” Cooper suggests. “And pay attention to him for signs of pain or exhaustion.”